Cap. 569 Art. 2Interpretation. S.L. 12.20 Cap. 468.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"the Agency" means the Government agency responsible for the welfare of children in alternative care established in terms of article 31; "alternative care" means the placement of a child in the care of a person or entity, other than the child’s parents, which placement has been ordered by the court or as a result of administrative measures and the term "alternative carer" shall be construed accordingly;

"Board of Appeal" means the Board of Appeal established in terms of article 46;

"care and protection" means that care and protection which a parent may reasonably be expected to give to his child for the purpose of promoting his full potential, taking into account the abilities, natural inclinations and aspirations of the child; "Care Order" means an order issued in terms of article 18(1)(a); "care plan" means a plan drawn up in accordance with article 12 to promote the development and well-being of the child; "care review" means the sitting wherein all matters relevant to the well-being of the child, including the care plan of such child, are reviewed, taking into account any significant changes in connection with the child;

*Repealed by Act XXIII of 2019. † not yet in force. "child" means a person who is under the age of eighteen years; "Children’s Advocate" means a lawyer appointed in terms of regulation 3 of the Civil Court (Family Section), the First Hall of the

Civil Court and the Court of Magistrates (Gozo) (Superior Jurisdiction) (Family Section) Regulations; "Child Protection Order" means any one of the orders issued in terms of article 18; "cross-border foster care" means:

(a) the care provided by a foster carer who is a Maltese citizen, to a child who is not a Maltese citizen and who is resident in Malta; or

(b) the care provided by a foster carer who is not a Maltese citizen and whose approval by a foreign authority is recognised by the central authority, through the Agency, to a child who is resident in Malta; "Director" means the Director responsible for child welfare; "Emergency Order" means an order issued in terms of article 19;

"Fostering Board" means the board established in terms of article 33;

"foster care" means the placement of a child in the care of a family, other than the child’s own family, which is selected, qualified, approved and monitored for providing such care for a period according to the care plan; "foster carer" means one or more persons approved by the Fostering Board to foster a child; "foster care agreement" means an agreement entered into in accordance with article 38; "key social worker" means the social worker appointed by the Agency to follow the development and well-being of a child in alternative care and to co-ordinate and follow up progress of a care plan in relation to that child; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for child welfare;

"parent responsibility guidelines" means the guidelines issued in terms of article 11;

"parents" means the mother or the father of the child or any other person who, by an express provision of law, has parental responsibility for such child; "registered social worker" or "social worker" shall have the meaning assigned to it by article 2 of the Social Work Profession Act; "Removal Order" means an order issued in terms of article 18(1)(e); "residential care agreement" means an agreement entered into in accordance with article 43; "Training Order" means an order issued in terms of article 18(1)(d);

"Treatment Order" means an order issued in terms of article 18(1)(c); and

"unaccompanied minor" means a child who arrives in Malta unaccompanied by an adult who by law or custom is responsible for him, and for as long as the child is not effectively taken into care of such an adult and includes any minor who is left unaccompanied after he has entered Malta.